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Mumsnet Christian Prayer Thread for late summer

484 replies

DutchOma · 23/08/2008 20:13

It's quite amazing how quickly the time goes. Looking back over the past six weeks there is not much that really lights up apart for the birth of Oliver Benjamin on the 1st August to Mr and CaptainCaveman and Tom. Praise God that all medical intervention went well and that Oliver was born safely and is feeding well
We pray for two other expected babies: Myjobismum's which is expected at the beginning of October and Swaliswan's who only just confirmed the pregnancy. Pray that all may go well, bearing in mind her miscarriage in February.

The weather this summer has not been very good and a lot of us have been on holiday and have struggled to a greater or lesser degree:- Soozy, Podmog, Dumbledoresgirl, Amber and Mary (who is still away).
We give thanks that Mary was not seriously hurt after an accident on her bike; also for her church placement in an immigration reception centre. Nearer the time this will need much prayer.

We pray for Weegiemum who suffers with frequent kidney stones and who has the additional difficulties in obtaining adequate pain relief.

We give thanks with Myjobismum for a much better prognosis for the baby of a young friend. Initially it was thought that the baby might have to spend months in hospital, the baby will still need a lot of care but it is now thought that it will be weeks rather than months.
We also pray for Henry,(thanks to StickyJ who flagged this up for us) who has had operations and is still very up and down and for the baby of Mascarpone's friend in New Zealand who is suffering from trigonocephaly.
We pray for two other 'newbies' on the thread: longlegted and livvylouis.
We pray for Amber and Roseylea, Notquitegrownup and Notsofarnow, (prayers for dd, GCSE results and MRI scan results),Jentlydoesit, FAQ, Mufti and PandaG.
We give thanks with Marslady who managed to support the parents of two fatboys and twind, within the space of a week. we have seen real answers to prayer here.
We pray for those who have suffered bereavements: Onlyjoking, Evenstar and MartianBishop and we pray for Mummy2TandF on the coming first anniversary of her dh's death
Last but not least we hold up our own CaptainDippy who is still not in the right place healthwise and who is struggling in other ways as well. Lord, bring someone alongside her to guide her, support her, emotionally and practically and please Lord, make her aware of your loving presence.

We praise God for the ability to pray for one another in the certainty that He hears our prayers and deals with them in His infinite wisdom and compassion.

OP posts:
MaryBS · 17/09/2008 16:52

Could do with some prayers please. Without going into great detail, I'm feeling extremely upset over a conversation I had this am with my vicar (who has the tact and the hide of a rhinoceros!), and it has left me feeling extremely fragile. The awful thing is, I think he was trying to pay me a compliment, but it came out with his going over and over every last little mistake of mine that he can attribute to my having Asperger's. I found it incredibly hurtful and demoralising and I really don't know if I want to work with him if we are going to keep having these sorts of conversations

On the plus side, I start my placement at the immigration centre on Sunday. Interview went very well, although it was made quite clear that it would not be an easy placement for me. I also told him about my Asperger's, which he took very well (although I am not entirely convinced he knew what it was!).

myjobismum · 17/09/2008 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JentlyDoesIt · 17/09/2008 20:30

Am I right MJIM and you are due on 8 Oct? That's DP's birthday My cousin is due the day after...

Mary, what a horrid conversation to have with your vicar, I can only imagine how you feel thinking of you on your placement though, a great challenge.

MaryBS · 17/09/2008 22:37

A bit late, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY PANDA FOR TODAY!!!

JDI - I really wish I knew what God's will was in all this... the vicar also took it upon himself to remind me about time spent away from my family supporting the church, and that my husband and children are my vocation too (to be fair this may have been prompted by someone else at church dropping out due to family commitments - but no need to take it out on me).

MaryBS · 18/09/2008 03:42

Am awake... and have been crying. Cried at bedtime. Crying now. Oh God, how did it get this far wrong?

notsofarnow · 18/09/2008 06:26

mary are you still awake? Come on hun this will all look better in the light of day. Easier said than done but you need to brush it off. People get it wrong God doesn't. Re the family comment was he saying that you need to spend more time with the family or that family need to fit round your vocation? Just confused about this as i've listened to some great people on work/life balance as in R.T. Kendall the other week. He was brill and said it took a long time to be able to forgive himself for the neglect of his family over his ministry.

notsofarnow · 18/09/2008 06:33

oh flip I have symptoms of shingles aghhhhhh

MaryBS · 18/09/2008 06:43

Just got up, and no it doesn't look any better

MaryBS · 18/09/2008 06:44

I need to spend more time with my family is what he was saying, but that causes concerns as to how/whether he can use me

CaptainCaveman · 18/09/2008 09:28

May be a long shot Mary but perhaps God has spoken to the vicar about the demands he is placing on you? And the vicar is trying to make it right so you do get to spend more time with your family? does that make any kind of sense? Am praying for the situation to become clearer for you, and for your happiness of course

Magic Colief worked wonders with ds2 yesterday - PRAISE GOD! Very little crying and much better sleeps too. Thank You Lord.

mjim I must have been living in a vacuum since ds2 was born - I can't believe you are nearly at 40 weeks already!!! Honestly, next you'll be telling me its the middle of September already - eeeeekk!!

CaptainDippy · 18/09/2008 09:50

Oh mary I have been praying for you since I got your text last night. Is there someone neutral you can talk this through with? Here for you. xx

Gosh it is hot here today - feeling stifled!!

Singles nsfn!!? Where? Get yourself down to your GP asap.

CaptainDippy · 18/09/2008 09:50

Glad the Colief is having an effect CC

CaptainCaveman · 18/09/2008 10:06

Cheers CD. How's your tribe? Oliver is asleep and trumping loudly

notsofarnow · 18/09/2008 10:38

Have been to GP kind of suck it and see if blisters appear really but I can go to work as its on my back where my bra strap is. Apparantly as long as its covered by clothing then I can go to work as its only the fluid in the blisters (if they appear) that are infectious.

Mary praying for you hun x

CaptainDippy · 18/09/2008 11:22

Sounds ouchy and uncomfortable honey xx

LOL @ Oliver trumping We're ok, K at nursery, S at pre-school and P sleeping ... and I am mning working

Where's DO!!?

MaryBS · 18/09/2008 13:03

The stupid thing is that he's really pleased with how I've developed over the past year, and how I've achieved things that he said he didn't think I COULD do. But he doesn't realise at what personal cost this has been to myself, and moreover, seems to regard this as a fault.

Its been a long time since I've been able to go to him with problems, because of how judgemental he's become. Its like I'm not a member of his congregation any more, so he doesn't have to care for me pastorally. And I'm not the only member of the ministry team that has said this...

Come Sunday I'll be starting my placement, so won't have to do so much with him, but my confidence has been really knocked (again!).

The only person I can really take this to I guess is my course director...

Praying NSFN - for you and your shingles, and for all in need of prayer...

myjobismum · 18/09/2008 13:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CaptainDippy · 18/09/2008 14:45

Think you should take it to your course Director then Mary. Better to tell someone that to hold onto these feelings. xx

amber32002 · 18/09/2008 15:08

Mary, keeping you in prayer. Your vicar is certainly doing a grand job of foot-putting and you could do without it.

Prayers aplenty for everyone else here too.

Me, I'm struggling to make myself understood to my new church. They're lovely and want to help me settle in, but had such a shock on Sunday when they forgot/didn't realise that I needed support. And then one of the people who was supposed to know all about the support I needed told me that she had no idea I couldn't 'see' people, and another one asked me if I could deal with the disability and its effects by just relaxing more . Nope, that's why it's a disability . Have now re-explained, again.

I need the patience of many saints and the diplomatic skills of the United Nations. Anyone got some I can borrow?

MaryBS · 18/09/2008 15:34

Maybe we should do a "Wife swap" Amber, but only as regards church (don't think your DH could take the shock!). You can sort my vicar out, and I'll tackle yours!

I'd a book on my bookshelf I hadn't looked at for a year, felt I should pull it off this morning, and read some of it on the walk in to work/back to car. Its called "The Sacrament of the Present Moment" by Jean-Pierre de Caussade, who was an 18thC French priest. Very spiritual, interesting ideas about surrendering oneself to God's will.

CaptainDippy · 18/09/2008 16:06

Tough for you amber; but glad they are trying to help you settle in. xx

Notquitegrownup · 18/09/2008 16:51

lol at Mary's wife swap! Great idea. CDs exploding head is fun too. Hiya everyone.

Mary - maybe you could send your vicar an email, reflecting back what he said to you. Something like

I felt a little downhearted yesterday. From our meeting I took away that you thought a, b and c. You also mentioned d . . . I thought it might be useful to clarify. Is that a fair summary of our discussion?

He may be sitting at home feeling that it had all been v. constructive and that he had praised you and then given you lots of food for thought! Of course, he might reply "Yep, that's summarised it nicely", which would leave you feeling grim, but I suspect he would feel quite shocked at you being demoralised.

Flying by. Off to U8 football practice with ds1 now . . .

God bless all.

CaptainDippy · 18/09/2008 17:27

Hey NQGU

MaryBS · 18/09/2008 17:29

Tried that before NQGU, but good idea anyway. He hates carrying on conversations by email. I think he knew he'd upset me, as I had a few tears trickling down my cheek, and I asked him at the time what he meant when he said "last year I had grave doubts about you continuing in ministry". He told me he didn't mean grave, and as I said to him a year ago DS had been dx'd with Aspergers and I had been hit with it too. I challenged him on a couple of other points too. He spent some time talking to me tonight when he collected his DD from school, and although we didn't discuss it, it was certainly cordial.

Tutorial tonight... so I shall be shattered later...

Clockface · 18/09/2008 17:40

Praying for you Mary. Your vicar doesn't know how lucky / blessed he is to have you! Another long shot, but maybe he resalised that he has neglected your personal pastoral care and tried to overcompensate clumsily by going on about your family.

I have had a really interesting "study day" today, all about mission and the environment and stuff. Lots of thoughts swirling round in my head atm about my own call to ministry and how that might work out. I have written a prayer letter with details of what I am up to so if anyone would like one please e-mail me (if you have my email address...if not, I'll sort it out!)